Burglar-protector



109. SAI-tS, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

A. HORVITZ.

BUBGLAR PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JUN: 10. ms. 4'

1,345,444. Patented July 6, 1920.

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UNITED STATES AARON HORVITZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BURGLAR-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Original application filed April 12, 1917, Serial No. 161,614. Divided and this application filed June 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON HORVITZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and btate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in burglar protectors, and more particularly to improvements in desks, whereby the latter are rendered more effective in protection against burglars. The present application is a division of my pending application Serial No. 161,614, filed April 12, 1917, for burglar alarms and protectors.

The object of my invention is the production of a burglar protector of the character mentioned, which will be of durable and economical construction, highly efficient in use, and capable of ready and easy operation. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1, is a partially diagrammatic perspective View of an office desk embodying the invention, and,

Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional detail of the catch cooperating with the top of the desk.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises an office desk 3, the top 4 of which is hinged at 5 to permit of swinging of the same to vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said top 4 is normally held in vertical position by means of helical torsional springs 6, said top, when in vertical position, being adapted to constitute a protector or shield forthe user of the desk against the bullets of a burglar or intruder entering the office or room of the user.

The member 4 is formed with side flanges or leaves 7, which are adapted to more effectively guard the proposed victim, the

arrangement being such that when the desk top 4 is released and swung to vertical position, a three-sided inclosure or protector will be formed. When the desk top is swung to vertical position, an opening 8 in the body of the desk is uncovered, into which they Serial No. 239,209.

intended victim may step for more effective protection.

The desk top 4 is held in lowered or horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, by means of a spring catch 9 carried by and depending from the top at one end, said catch being adapted for engagement with an electrically shiftable bolt 10, with which cooperates a solenoid coil 10' arranged in an electric circuit 11 and inclosed in a housing 12, which is secured to the adjacent side of the desk.

The arrangement is such that when the solenoid coil 10 is energized through closing of said circuit, the bolt 10 will be retracted and thus the catch 9 released to permit of upward swinging of the desk top. This closing of the circuit is effected by means of a switch 13, of conventional construction, which may be arranged at any suitable location and preferably upon the floor, where the same may be readily operated by the foot of the user of the desk. With this arrangement, it will be seen that normally the desk top will assume horizontal position, as seen in full lines in the drawings, but in case of intrusion of a burglar or hold-up man, the office occupant or desk user needs simply to depress the switch 13 to effect release of the desk top. When this is done, the latter will be instantly swung upwardly and thus afford the desired protection, as above described. The catch 9 is provided with a forwardly projecting handle 14, whereby the same may be manually flexed to effect release of the same if desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A desk comprising a body having a rearwardly and upwardly opening recess adapted to accommodate the user of the desk; a swingingly mounted top on said desk body adapted to assume either horizontal or vertical positions, said top, when swung to vertical position, exposing said recess to permit of the entrance of the desk user therein; means for releasably holding said top in horizontal position; means for automatically swinging said top to vertical position when the same is released; and leaves carried by the lateral edges of said top and adaptname to this specification in the presence 15 of two subscribing witnesses.

AARON HORVITZ. Witnesses JosI-IUA R. H. Po'r'rs, HELEN F'. LILLIS. 

